Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 11 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/10/2019
Date of Sentencing: August/14/2020
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Online Activity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Illicit Financing
Alisher Kasymov
Extra Bio Info:
Alisher Kasymov is imprisoned for discussing his religion on social media.
On October 10, 2019, authorities arrested Kasymov for allegedly downloading “extremist sermons” and other religious extremism-related offenses. He and seven others arrested around the same time were reportedly tortured at the Interior Ministry building.
On August 14, 2020, Kasymov was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison on various criminal statutes, including “financing terrorism" (155-3 UCC) and "creation, management, and participation in religious extremist, separatist, fundamentalist, or other banned organizations" (Art. 244-2 UCC).
Related Cases: Azimjon Abdusamatov, Ubaydulla Murtazoyev, Shakhzodjon Zokirov, Bakhtiyor Tursunov
Publicly Available Information:
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: Reduced to 7 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment (Originally 15 Years' Imprisonment)
Date of Detainment: March/26/2016
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Adherence to a Religious Figure Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition
Alisher Muminov
Extra Bio Info:
Alisher Muminov was imprisoned for his religious activity.
On March 26, 2016, authorities arrested Muminov, a resident of Margilon, in Tashkent and charged him with “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Arts. 159-1, 159-3) and an unspecified subsection of Article 244 UCC for allegedly distributing banned religious literature, among other allegations. Some of the evidence security services alleged to be “extremist” found on Muminov’s phone were poems of the popular religious figure, poet, and sportscaster Hayrullo Hamidov and recordings of the popular imam Abdulloh Domla. Muminov told relatives he was forced to sign a confession and was not provided access to a lawyer.
On an unspecified date, Muminov was initially sentenced in a closed door trial to 15 years in prison, which was reduced after intervention by the Office of the Ombudsperson for Human Rights to a shorter sentence of seven years and six months.
Muminov has served prison time in Jaslyk (2016–2019), followed by the Pap Prison in Namangan and Hasanboy Resettlement Colony.
In September 2022, it was reported that Muminov had been released.
Publicly Available Information:
Additional Name(s): Ibrohim Tojiakhmatovich Kholmatov, Иброҳим Холматов, Иброхим Тоджиахматович Холматов
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Health Concerns: Tuberculosis
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 4 Years, 1 Month's Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: January/8/2020
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Ibrohim Kholmatov
Extra Bio Info:
Ibrohim Kholmatov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
In 2000, authorities arrested Kholmatov and charged him with “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Art. 159 UCC), “illegal formation of public associations or religious organizations” (Art. 216 UCC), and “preparation or distribution of materials containing a threat to public security or public order” (Art. 244-1 UCC). Kholmatov was reportedly torture while detained.
In 2001, Kholmatov was sentenced to ten years in prison and sent to a prison in Qarshi.
In May 2002, following the discovery of an advanced stage of tuberculosis, authorities issued Kholmatov a suspended sentence, releasing him early from prison.
On January 8, 2020, authorities arrested Kholmatov again and charged him with terrorism (Art. 155-1 UCC) and “illegal formation of public associations or religious organizations” (Art. 216 UCC). During interrogation, Kholmatov was reportedly held in a cell with a temperature of -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) to force a confession.
On an unspecified date, a Tashkent court reportedly sentenced Kholmatov to four years and one month in prison.
In September 2022, it was reported that Kholmatov had been released.